More clergy support same-sex marriage; Gallaudet decries TV ad

TV ad features suspended university employee who signed petition

Maryland clergy from multiple denominations are speaking out Thursday in support for same-sex marriage, and Gallaudet University wants a television ad pulled from the airwaves.

Clergy held a news conference Thursday morning at the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland: Cathedral of the Incarnation in Baltimore, and another event was scheduled in Silver Spring outside of St. Mark's Episcopal Church.

Men and women from multiple denominations showed their unified support for Question 6.

"We are one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We can't live up to that great declaration if we cannot affirm marriage equality. It is at that point that we become hypocrites of our own moral compass as a nation," said Rev. Todd Yeary with Douglas Memorial Community Church.

Those who spoke Thursday said while they have varying religious views, they believe the question of marriage equality to be more of a social issue.

"They don't want to change society. They want to change their Facebook status or check the box that says married. Look, we all have the right to disagree, but as an American I believe is about making more room for others, not less even if it makes us a little uncomfortable at times," said Rabbi Daniel Cotzin Burg with Beth Am Synagogue.

Also Thursday, Gallaudet University is asking a coalition opposed to same-sex marriage to stop airing a television ad that features a staff member who was suspended for signing a referendum petition.

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, Gallaudet spokeswoman Catherine Murphy said, "The video footage of Dr. Angela McCaskill that is being used in the Maryland Marriage Alliance political advertisement is Gallaudet property and is being used without permission. Our legal counsel is working to have the footage that is copyrighted by Gallaudet removed from the advertisement."

Deana Bass, a spokeswoman for the alliance, said the group hasn't heard any formal complaints about the ad and doesn't plan to remove it.

The video shows footage of Angela McCaskill, chief diversity officer at the District of Columbia school, who was put on administrative leave last week.

Maryland residents will be voting in November on whether the Civil Marriage Protection Act passed by the General Assembly earlier this year should take effect.